Chapter 53 – Out of Control (Ivy’s POV)

Chapter 53 – Out of Control (Ivy’s POV)
For some reason, it was right when I was thinking of the life that was stolen from me that he arrived that night. So when he came in, it was just difficult trying to play nice, like I was slowly leaning into intrigues.
Damn this bond.
For a moment, I considered ignoring him. Not long ago, Damian was the last person I ever wanted near me. The wounds of his past cruelty still throbbed inside. But something pulled at me insistently, a magnetic tug I was helpless to sever.
And then, one thing led to the other and in a split-second, I crashed my mouth against his. It was a fierce, angry kiss. I poured all my confusion and frustration into it, biting his lower lip hard enough to taste a hint of blood. If he wanted to make things right, fine. I’d take what I needed from him and remind him—and myself—that I was in control here.
Damian froze for a heartbeat, clearly not expecting me to make the first move. Then instinct kicked in and he was kissing me back, crushing my lips under his with a hunger that stole my breath. His arm snaked around my waist, yanking me flush against the hard planes of his body.
I bit his lower lip, a sharp nip that made him hiss in pleasure. I used his surprise to spin us around and shove him against the wall. He grunted as his back hit plaster. For a brief, exhilarating moment, I was the one in control—I heard him gasp at my boldness.
But it was short-lived. A low snarl tore from Damian’s throat and suddenly I was the one pinned. He moved so fast it stole my breath; in a blink, my back was slammed against the wall and both of my wrists were captured above my head in one of his large hands. He was so damn strong, effortlessly restraining me.
I thrashed, a wordless growl ripping from my throat. Part of me wanted to snarl in frustration at being manhandled, but another part of me… oh god, another part of me liked it. A hot thrill shot through my veins at his show of dominance. My body was betraying me completely—heat pooled between my thighs, my nipples pebbling against the satin of my robe. I hated that it excited me. I hated that being pressed under his weight made me feel safe and desired and furious all at once.
He tore his mouth from mine, leaving me gasping. His lips trailed down my neck, hot and demanding. When he grazed that sensitive spot where neck meets shoulder, my knees almost buckled. I bit back a moan, determined not to show how easily he was unraveling me.
Then his teeth sank in—just a nip, but enough to send a lightning bolt of sensation straight through me. “Ahh—!” I cried out before I could stop myself. Pleasure and pain mixed deliciously, and my wolf practically purred in approval. Traitor, I mentally snarled at her, even as my head tilted of its own accord, granting him better access.
Damian growled against my skin, the sound primal and possessive. A shiver ran through me. With one sharp tug, he yanked at the tie of my robe. The satin fell open and slid off my shoulders, leaving me bare. I should have felt self-conscious or angry—he just exposed me without asking—but the way his eyes devoured my body in that instant set me on fire. My nipples hardened to tight peaks under his heated stare, and an involuntary whimper escaped my throat.
“Bed,” he grated out, voice thick with need. Before I could react, Damian lifted me as if I weighed nothing. A startled gasp burst from me and I clung to his shoulders as he carried me the few steps to the bed. He tossed me onto the mattress. I bounced once, scrambling to prop myself up on my elbows, heart racing with anticipation and defiance.
He was on me in an instant, descending like a predator. Our mouths collided again, and I lost myself in the savage dance of tongues and teeth. I tugged at his shirt, suddenly desperate to feel his skin. “Off,” I panted between feverish kisses, clawing at the fabric.
He reared back just long enough to rip the shirt over his head. Then he was pressing me into the mattress again, chest to chest, skin on skin. The heat of him against my naked breasts drew a sinful moan from my lips. Damn him. He felt so good—hard muscle, radiating warmth, enveloping me completely.
My hands roamed greedily over his broad shoulders and back, nails digging in a little. I wanted it to hurt—I wanted to leave marks, to make him feel even a fraction of the hurt he’d caused me. Maybe I wanted to mark him the way he’d marked me in so many ways.
A feral sound rumbled in Damian’s throat. He captured my wandering hands and pinned them to the bed on either side of my head. “Nice try,” he rasped, breath hot against my cheek—almost like he knew exactly what I attempted. My stomach flipped. He did know, and he found it amusing.
I glared up at him, chest heaving. “Bastard,” I hissed, defiantly rolling my hips up to grind against the bulge straining in his pants. If my hands were trapped, I’d use what I have. The thick ridge of his erection rubbed right against my soaked core and we both gasped at the friction.
His eyes turned molten, half-lidded with lust. “Fuck, Ivy…” he groaned, the sound of my name in that ragged voice sending a shameful thrill through me. A spark of triumph flared in my chest, however fleeting. I made him groan. Me. Not his dominance, not his control but just me. It was a small victory, but I’d take it.
The next second, Damian’s composure snapped entirely. He crushed his mouth to mine in a bruising kiss and ground his hips against me harder, making me whimper into his mouth. Freeing my hands, he fumbled between our bodies to yank at his belt. I heard the clink of metal, the rasp of a zipper. My pulse spiked with anticipation and a flicker of nerves.
I wanted this - god, I needed it - but I hated how badly I did.
And then I got it…